The country of Vanuatu is rich in volcanoes, being located on the Ring of Fire. It also hosts 138 languages, and many different oral traditions.

Read and listen to some volcanic myths of Vanuatu

Myths recorded by the authors, and archived on the Pangloss Collection of CNRS.

• The Tragic Revenge of the two Sisters
  • Recording: 6 Aug 2003, by A. François
  • Location: Dorig village, south coast, Gaua, Banks Islands, Vanuatu
  • Language: Dorig
  • Storyteller: Charles Maklen
  • Volcano: Mt. Ghrāt
• The Woman who became Volcano
  • Recording: 7 Aug 2003, by A. François
  • Location: Dorig village, south coast, Gaua, Banks Islands, Vanuatu
  • Language: Dorig
  • Storyteller: John Collection Wemaras
  • Volcano: Mt. Ghrāt
• Wrisris, the Guardian of the Underworld
  • Recording: 9 Aug 2003, by A. François
  • Location: Dorig village, south coast, Gaua, Banks Islands, Vanuatu
  • Language: Dorig
  • Storyteller: Charles Maklen
  • Volcano: Mt. Ghrāt
• How Tombu destroyed his own island of Kuwae
  • Recording: 1 Dec 2017, by S. Bessis
  • Location: Shepherd Islands, Vanuatu
  • Language: Namakura
  • Storyteller: Chief Maripalu
  • Volcano: Kerua, on the ancient island Kuwae
• How Ambae bartered its volcano with Ambrym,
  in exchange for sprouting coconuts
  • Recording: 29 May 1998, by A. François
  • Location: Lahlap village, Motalava, Banks Islands
  • Language: Mwotlap
  • Storyteller: Kenneth Woleg
  • Volcano: Marum, Ambrym
• How our Ambrym volcano came about
  • Recording: 28 Jun 2011, by M. Franjieh
  • Location: Wou village, Northern Ambrym
  • Language: Bislama
  • Storyteller: Albert Tobyul
  • Volcano: Marum, Ambrym
• Yasur and the six ovens
  • Recording: 24 Aug 2025, by S. Bessis
  • Location: Yakutapuna, South Tanna
  • Language: Nafe
  • Storyteller: Charlie Yakapas
  • Volcano: Yasur, Tanna

Thanks for your attention!

Feel free to contact us at alexandre.francois@ens.psl.eu.